I WAS BASE UMPIRE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GAME...
RUNNERS ON 2ND AND 3RD/2 OUT.
GROUND BALL TO SHORTSTOP WHO HAD TO MOVE TO HER LEFT TO MAKE THE PLAY..RUNNER ON 2ND MADE CONTACT WITH FIELDER..BALL WENT INTO CENTER FIELD...TWO RUNS SCORED.
I FELT THAT THE SHORTSTOP HAD MOVED INTO THE BASEPATH(&RUNNER) AND THAT IT WAS INCIDENTAL CONTACT...THE DEFENSIVE TEAM COACH ASKED IF I WOULD CHECK WITH BU TO SEE IF HE HAD A 'better look"...I AGREED...MY PARTNER FELT THAT IT WAS INTERFERENCE AND THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE THE CALL..SINCE I WAS NOT 100%SURE I WAS RIGHT..WE CHANGED THE CALL...MY QUESTIONS:1) DOES THERE HAVE TO BE CONTACT TO BE OFFENSIVE INTERFERENCE? 2)WHAT IF THE FIELDER, IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE PLAY...MOVE INTO THE BASERUNNER--NO CALL??OBSTRUCTION?? 3)UNLESS IT IS A FLAGRANT VIOLATION...DOESN'T THIS TYPE OF PLAY COME DOWN TO TOTAL-ABSOLUTE JUDGEMENT???
THANKS,
DOUGIE
|